Traveling kelly packer



July 18, 1961 R. J. STEINBERGER TRAVELING KELLY PACKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 1, 1956 INVENTOR.

0 Ralph J. Steinberger July 18, 1961 R. J. STEINBERGER TRAVELINGKELLYPACKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1, 1956 N I M r 0 a s z w w, m IVs, wmm m mm k a A WWW m v xyy xw J. m h f m, R w

u y 18, 1961 R. J. STEINBERGER 2,992,841

TRAVELING KELLY PACKER Filed May 1. 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.4

A I 23 34 j Fig.6

Ralph J. Steinberger INVENTOR.

United States Pa 2,992,841 Patented July 18, 1961 This inventioncomprises a novel and useful traveling kelly packer and moreparticularly relates to an apparatus for sealing off the space betweenthe kelly bar and an inner well casing by a floating packer to permitthe use of reverse circulation in rotary drilling operations.

In the normal circulation of drilling fluid, in rotary drilling rigs,the drilling fluid is supplied under pressure down the drill pipe, outacross the face of the bit, and returns to the surface through theannular space be tween the drill pipe and the wall of the bore orcasing, carrying with it the cuttings removed from the formation by thedrill bit. For numerous reasons, it is now conventional practice to attimes employ a reverse circulation of the drilling fluid. Reversecirculation of the drilling fluid comprises the introduction of thefluid into the top of the annular space between the drill pipe and thewall of the hole or casing to the formation below the drill bit, withthe return of the fluid up through the drill bit and drill pipe,carrying with it the cuttings from the drill bit. In effecting reversecirculation, it is necessary to seal off the kelly from the wall of thebore, in order to force the drilling fluid to return to the surfacethrough the drill pipe. Heretofore, such packing means for the kellyusually comprise a stationary packing member through which the kellyslides and rotates. Such sealing means has a number of importantdisadvantages, which need not be here enumerated.

It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to provide asealing means whereby the kelly may be sealed from the wall of the boreby means of a traveling kelly packer carried by the kelly and whichslides within the inner tubing or casing usually provided for reversecirculation.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide a kelly packer,especially adapted for use with reverse circulation drilling operations,in which the wear between the packer and the kelly and adjacent surfaceswith which the packer seals, shall be greatly reduced, and whereby thenovel kelly packer of this invention may be readily applied to orremoved from a kelly.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing in vertical elevationand in vertical section portions of a drilling rig of the usual rotarytype but with reverse circulation of the drilling fluid, and showing apreferred manner in which the improved method and apparatus of thepresent invention is applied to the kelly of a rotary drilling rig;

FIGURE .11: is a view indicating a medial portion of the well bore withthe inner and outer tubes and the drill pipe disposed therein;

FIGURE 1b is a view similar to FIGURES 1 and la and showing the lowerportion of the well bore with the inner and outer tubes, the drill pipeand the drill bit therein;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged View in vertical section of the upper end of awell bore showing the inner and outer casings or tubes and the drillpipe therein, and with a are applied thereto.

packer applied to seal off the outer casing or tubing from the wellbore;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the lower end of thekelly and the traveling kelly packer carried thereon in accordance withthis invention applied thereto and operatively associated with the innercasing or tubing;

FIGURES 4 and 5 are horizontal sectional views taken substantially uponthe planes indicated by the section lines 44 and 5-5 of FIGURES 2 and.3, respectively; and

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the kelly packer assembly inaccordance with this invention.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown a conventional rotarydrilling rig in operative relation with a well bore, and illustratingthe manner in which the traveling kelly packer and the method of thisinvention The drilling rig includes: the usual derrick 10 having theconventional rotary table 12 by means of which rotation is imparted tothe kelly 14, and through the latter to the drill pipe 16 and to thedrilling bit 18 carried thereby, for drilling a hole or well bore 20 ina suitable formation. Also indicated at 22 is the usual mud pump bymeans of which the drilling mud is delivered under pressure through thepipe 24 for travel into the well bore, while the pipe 26 returns thedrilling fluid, with the drill cuttings carried thereby, through theusual settling tank, strainers and other equipment to the mud pump 22for recirculation.

Indicated generally by the numeral 28 is the usual swivel, carried bythe traveling block 30 of the drilling rig which supports the kelly andthrough the kelly the drill pipe during the rotation of the drill pipeby the rotary table, the swivel 28 having the usual flexible hose 32communicating thereby with the interior of the kelly and drill pipe andalso with the return pipe 26.

When reverse circulation is being effected, there is inserted into thewell bore 20 concentric inner and outer casings or tubings 34 and 36respectively, there being thus provided, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3,concentric annular passages between the kelly 14 and the drill pipe 16and the inner tubing 34, between the inner and outer tubings 34 and 36and between the outer tubing 36 and the wall of the bore 20. A packingmember 38 is customarily employed between the outer tubing 36 and thewall of the bore 20 for sealing this annular passage. The drilling fluidfrom the conduit 24 passes downwardly into the well bore through theannular passage between the inner and outer tubing, for discharge at thebottom of the well bore adjacent the bit 18 as shown in FIGURE 1b. Afurther packing comprising the kelly packing assembly 40 in accordancewith this invention is provided between the drill pipe 16 and the innertube 34, and since the packings 38 and 40 seal off the space between thekelly and the well bore, the circulating drilling fluid returns to thesurface through the drill pipe 16, the swivel 28, the flexible hose 32and conduit 26. Such circulation is shown by the arrows in the variousfigures of the drawings.

Referring now primarily to FIGURE 2 it will be observed that the packer38 is in the form ofan elastic sleeve which surrounds and is sealed tothe outer tubing 36, the sleeve having its upper and lower ends firmlysecured to and embracing the tubing in any desired manner as by weldingor the like. By means of suitable apertures 42 in the outer tubingbetween the upper and lower limits of the packer sleeve 38, the pressureof the drilling fluid supplied to the annular space between the innerand outer tubes serves to inflate the sleeve into sealing engagementwith the wall of the bore 3 20, thereby preventing any fluid from thewell bore from passing upwardly therethrough.

Shown particularly in FIGURES 3 and 6 is the traveling packer assemblyindicated generally by the numeral 40. This assembly comprises a tubularsection 41 having a cylindrical diametrically reduced central portion44, comprising a journal whose lower end is provided with taperedthreads 46, and whose upper end is internally threaded as at 48 for thereception of the externally threaded lower portion 50 of the kelly 14.As will be apparent from FIGURE 3, the external surface of the member 41forms a smooth continuation of the external surface of the kelly, whilethe internal diameters of the bores through the kelly and member 41 areidentical.

A sleeve 51, as shown in FIGURE 3, is rotatably received upon thediametrically reduced portion 44, and has its upper end received in thecircumferential groove 52 formed in the undersurface of the shoulder atwhich the diametrically reduced portion 44 joins the upper portion ofthe member 41. A packing or sealing ring or cup 54 of any suitablematerial such as rubber or the like is secured to the sleeve 51 andsurrounds the same, and is of suflicient diameter to have a fluid tightbut slidable engagement with the internal surface of the inner tubing34. The sleeve 51 thus comprises a means for journaling the packer ring54 on the journal 44.

The assembly further includes a connecting member 56 having adiametrically reduced, tapered externally threaded lower portion 58adapted to be engaged in the complementary internally threaded bore ofthe upper end of the adjacent section of the drill pipe 16, while theupper end of the connector 56 has an internally threaded bore 60 forreceiving the previously mentioned externally threaded portion 46 of themember 41. There is also provided a circumferential groove 62 upon theupper surface of the connector 56 for receiving the lower end of thesleeve 51.

It should be observed that the cross-sectional shape of the member 41may be identical with that of the kelly 14, which as shown in FIGURE 4is preferably non-circular. However the reduced portion 44 iscylindrical and has journaled thereon the sleeve 51 as above recited.

To apply the traveling kelly packer of this invention, it is merelynecessary to connect the portion 58 of the connector 56 with the upperend of the pump section of the drill pipe, and then introduce the samewith the packing member and the member 41 attached thereto into theinner tubing. Thereafter, the lower end of the kelly is then engaged inthe internally threaded bore 48, and it will thereupon be apparent thatas the kelly is raised and lowered by the action of the traveling block-30, the packer 54 will slide vertically in the inner tubing 34, butwill be relatively rotationally stationary with respect thereto.

It will thus be apparent that the packer 54 slides vertically in theinner tubing, but because of friction does not rotate relative thereto,while the member 41 forming an operative part of the kelly has rotarymovement within the sleeve 51 upon which the packer 54 is mounted.Accordingly, as the kelly performs its normal functions in drilling, inefiecting circulation of the drilling fluid, and in supporting thedrilling pipe, it is evident that relative rotation of the packer withrespect to the kelly or to the inner tubing has been eliminated, so thatonly relative motion causing wear upon the packing is the verticalsliding movement of the same during vertical travel of the kelly.

: The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and opera-tion shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A kelly packer assembly comprising a tubular section having openupper and lower ends, means for securing said upper and lower ends toand in communication with a kelly and a drill pipe respectively, ajournal on said section, an elongated packer adapted for sliding andsealing engagement within a tubing section, means comprising a sleevejournaling said packer on said journal for relative rotation on thelatter whereby said packer may be rotationally stationary relative tosaid tubing section, said tubular section having its lower portiondiametrically reduced and providing a radially extending annularshoulder at its junction with its upper portion whereby said sleeve canbe slid on and off said journal from said lower portion, said shoulderhaving an annular recess receiving and retaining the adjacent end ofsaid sleeve therein, means on said lower end engaging and retaining theadjacent end of said sleeve thereon whereby said sleeve may be rotatableupon said journal but abutted at its ends by said shoulder and retainingmeans against axial movement on said journal.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retaining means has anannular surface with a recess therein confronting the adjacent end ofsaid sleeve and receiving and retaining the latter.

3. A kelly packer assembly including a kelly, a drill pipe and a packerassembly disposed therebetween, said packer assembly comprising atubular section having open upper and lower ends, first and second meanssecuring said upper and lower ends to and in communication with saidkelly and drill pipe respectively, said tubular section having adiametrically enlarged upper portion and a diametrically reducedcylindrical lower portion joined by an annular shoulder, said packerassembly including a sleeve rotatably journaled upon said lower portionand positionable thereon by slidable axial movement upon the lower endof said lower portion, and a resiliently deformable packer body fixedlymounted upon said sleeve, said packer body being engageable with androtationally stationary relative to a tubing section in which said kellypacker assembly is disposed, said lower end of said packer assemblycomprising a retainer having an annular surface opposed to the adjacentend of said sleeve, said annular shoulder and said annular surfaceabutting the ends of said sleeve and retaining the latter against axialmovement, at least one of said annular shoulder and surface having anannular recess therein receiving, overlapping and retaining therein theadjacent end of said sleeve.

4. A kelly packer assembly including a kelly, a drill pipe and a packerassembly disposed therebetween, said packer assembly comprising atubular section having open upper and lower ends, first and second meanssecuring said upper and lower ends to and in communication with saidkelly and drill pipe respectively, said tubular section having adiametrically enlarged upper portion and a diametrically reducedcylindrical lower portion joined by an annular shoulder, said packerassembly including a sleeve rotatably journaled upon said lower portionand positionable thereon by slidable axial movement upon the lower endof said lower portion, and a resiliently deformable packer body fixedlymounted upon said sleeve, said packer body being engageable with androtationally stationary relative to a tubing section in which said kellypacker assembly is disposed, said lower end of said packer assemblycomprising a retainer having an annular surface opposed to the adjacentend of said sleeve, said annular shoulder and said annular surfaceabutting the ends of said sleeve and retaining the latter against axialmovement, each of said annular shoulder and surface having an annulargroove therein in which is seated and retained the adjacent end of saidsleeve 5 6 whereby the sleeve may rotate relative to the tubular2,233,692 Bryant Mar. 4, 1941 section but is restrained against relativeaxial movement. 2,572,307 Brown et a1 Oct. 23, 1951 2,696,367 RobishawDec. 7, 1954 References Clted m theqfile of thls patent 2,758,891Kammerer Aug 14 1956 UNITED STATEb PATENTS 5 2,767,795 Bush Oct. 23,1956 1,824,257 Bull Sept. 22, 1931

